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Office of the Senior Procurement Executive (OSPE)

Joanie Newhart, CPCM
Senior Procurement Executive

The Office of the Senior Procurement Executive (OSPE) is responsible for finding the best business solutions to accomplish DOT’s mission. This is done through the development and execution of innovative business outcomes, results-oriented oversight, and the implementation of effective policies and procedures.  As an internal business partner, the OSPE helps to ensure that acquisition and financial assistance efforts strategically contribute to accomplishing the mission of DOT.  The five divisions under OSPE are Acquisition Policy and Oversight; Financial Assistance Policy and Oversight; Integrated Systems, Management and Reporting; Acquisition Services; and Commercial Services Management.

• The Acquisition Policy and Oversight Division establishes and maintains DOT-wide policies, procedures, and regulations relating to cradle-to-grave contracting within DOT.  It provides guidance, interpretation, and implementation of statutes, regulations, and policies and procedures.  It represents DOT on interagency groups to promulgate Government-wide policies and regulations, advancing DOT’s interests.  Through leadership and collaboration, it develops, assesses, and facilitates improvement programs and activities with an emphasis on streamlining operational requirements. It manages the DOT performance measurement program.  It establishes and maintains procurement data systems to ensure acquisition and financial assistance system integrity, data quality, accuracy, and timeliness of reporting.  This division manages capital planning, e-Government initiatives, audit strategy, and the procurement performance management program.  Its responsibilities include the oversight of the Transportation Acquisition Regulation (TAR) and the Transportation Acquisition Manual (TAM), managing the Department's acquisition career program, and collaborating with the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) to enhance DOT's small business procurements.

• The Financial Assistance Policy and Oversight Division provides oversight and guidance to improve the effectiveness and business management of Financial Assistance Programs for each DOT Operating Administration (OA), which includes the Office of the Secretary.  This Division is responsible for developing and promulgating regulations, policy, procedures, and guidance related to all financial assistance transactions (grants, cooperative agreements, loans, and other transactions). In addition, the division has oversight responsibilities for the DOT Suspension and Debarment program.  Also, this division manages the e-grants program at DOT. 

• The Integrated Systems, Management and Reporting Division manages the implementation and maintenance of One DOT PRISM, manages DOT’s relationship with the Integrated Acquisition Environment office and its related systems, and manages all Information Technology needs of the office. 

• The Acquisition Services Division provides cross-cutting support to the Heads of Contracting Activity, internal stakeholders, and external customers.  This Division provides a full range of acquisition services from acquisition planning to contract closeout.  The Acquisition Services Division is responsible for the award and administration of business arrangements as a Headquarters service organization, which includes contracts and grants.

• The Commercial Services Management Division supports DOT operating administrations in implementing workforce management and business process reengineering.  This includes preparation and consolidation of the FAIR Act and inherently governmental inventories, transmittal of annual congressional report on savings and performance improvement, preparation and consolidation of organizational change plans, conducting independent validations of savings, and providing support for organizational change initiatives.

Last updated: 7/30/2009